Chocolate Espresso Cheesecake With Ganache Recipes

Steps:

• Prepare the Crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Stir together cookie crumbs, butter, and sugar in a medium bowl until well blended. Press mixture into bottom and up sides of a 9-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray.
• Bake in preheated oven 10 minutes. Cool crust completely in pan on a wire rack, about 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• Prepare the Cheesecake: Beat cream cheese with a heavy-duty stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Gradually add sugar and flour, beating until smooth. Add eggs and egg yolks, one at a time, beating on low speed just until yellow disappears after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
• Divide batter into 2 equal portions in separate medium bowls. Pour 1 portion into prepared crust; spread evenly.
• Place Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Chips in a small microwaveable bowl. Microwave on medium (50% power) until melted and smooth, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds.
• Stir together coffee liqueur and espresso granules in a small bowl until espresso dissolves; stir mixture into remaining bowl of cheesecake batter. Stir melted bittersweet chocolate into coffee batter until blended.
• Gently pour over plain cheesecake batter in prepared crust, and spread evenly. Pan will be very full. Place springform pan on a rimmed baking sheet.
• Bake at 325 degrees F until center is almost set but center still jiggles slightly when pan is prodded, 1 hour and 5 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and cool completely, about 2 hours.
• Cover pan loosely with aluminum foil and chill 8 to 12 hours. Gently run a knife or offset spatula around outer edge of cheesecake to loosen from sides of pan. Remove sides of pan.
• Prepare the Topping: About 1 hour before serving, bring cream and corn syrup just to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium. Place Ghirardelli Semi-Sweet Chocolate Baking Chips in a small heatproof bowl; pour cream-syrup mixture over chocolate chips. Let stand 1 minute. Whisk gently until smooth. Cool slightly, about 15 minutes.
• Pour chocolate mixture over top of cheesecake, and gently spread to edge of crust. Chill until set, about 30 minutes. Garnish if desired.

Steps:

• Place a greased 9-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan., In a large bowl, combine the wafer crumbs, butter, sugar and espresso powder. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of prepared pan., In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, melted chocolate, cocoa, half-and-half and flour until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in the espresso powder and vanilla. Pour into crust. Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan., Bake at 350° until center is just set and top appears dull, 60-70 minutes. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan., In a small saucepan, combine liqueur and half-and-half. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat whipping cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until stiff peaks form., Drizzle cheesecake with coffee syrup; garnish with whipped cream, chocolate and coffee beans.

Steps:

• For crust:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 400°F. Grind cookies in processor. Add butter and process using on/off turns until crumbs are moist. Press crumbs on bottom and 1 1/2 inches up sides of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Wrap outside of pan with aluminum foil.
• For filling:
• In small bowl, dissolve instant espresso in 1 tablespoon water. Using electric mix, beat cream cheese in large bowl until smooth. Add sugar and continue beating until mixture is light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in espresso mixture, butter and ground coffee beans.
• Combine chocolate and cream in heavy small saucepan. Stir over low heat until chocolate melts. Pour half of cheese filling (about 2 1/2 cups) into prepared crust. Drop 5 tablespoons melted chocolate mixture by tablespoons around edge of filling, spacing evenly. Use small sharp knife to swirl chocolate into filling. Carefully pour remaining cheese filling over. Drop remaining chocolate mixture by tablespoons into center 6 inches of filling, spacing evenly. Swirl mixtures together using tip of knife.
• Bake cheesecake until edges are puffed and beginning to crack and top is golden brown, about 40 minutes (center will not be set). Cool on rack. Chill overnight. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead.)
• Run small sharp knife around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake. Release pan sides. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Transfer to platter and serve.

Steps:

• Crust: Stir together ingredients.
• Press on sides of springform pan and refrigerate.
• Drizzle 3 oz.melted semisweet chocolate over it. (This 3 oz. is optional, and it's not included in the ingredients above).
• Filling: Cream cream cheese.
• Add brown sugar.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating well.
• Add vanilla, coffee, cooled chocolate, and sour cream, separately.
• Blend after each addition.
• Place the cheesecake in water bath with foil around pan.
• Bake at 300F for 1 hr.;.
• reduce to 275F for 1 hr; reduce to 250F for 30 minute.
• Glaze: After cheesecake has cooled, melt ingredients in microwave and pour warm over cooled cheesecake.
• Now I usually don't add the chocolate drizzle over the bottom, and I just make a plain chocolate crust (without the nuts).
• But I promise you, this is the best chocolate cheesecake I've ever eaten.

Steps:

• MAKE THE CRUST: Combine the cookie crumbs, sugar, and melted butter; press the mixture evenly and firmly into the bottom of a greased 9" springform pan.
• Refrigerate the crust while making the filling.
• MAKE THE FILLING: Preheat oven to 350*F.
• Melt the chocolate over very low heat, stirring, until smooth; remove pan from heat and set aside to cool.
• Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together the cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add the sour cream; blend well.
• Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Add the eggs and egg yolks, one at a time, blending well after each addition; scrape down sides of bowl.
• Add the espresso, vanilla, and ground coffee; scrape down sides of bowl.
• Add the melted chocolate; blend well.
• Scrape down sides of bowl again; belnd for another minute, until smooth and well combined.
• Pour the filling into the chilled crust; let rest for 10 minutes.
• Place the cheesecake pan into a water bath; bake at 350*F for 45 minutes.
• Turn off the oven and let the cheesecake cool inside for another hour before removing.
• Meanwhile, MAKE THE GANANCHE: In a small, heavy saucepan, bring the heavy cream to a boil.
• Pour the cream over the chopped chocolate and let stand for 1 minute.
• Stir to melt the chocolate.
• Stir in the espresso; let mixture cool to room temperature.
• Pour sauce over the cooled cheesecake; remove the cake from the oven and the water bath.
• Refrigerate the cake for at least 6-8 hours to set before serving.
• If desired, garnish with dollops of whipped cream and/or chocolate-covered coffee beans.